William Bennett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Bennett
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Bennett in 2011
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| Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy | |
| In office March 13, 1989 – December 13, 1990 |
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| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Bob Martinez |
| 3rd United States Secretary of Education | |
| In office February 6, 1985 – September 20, 1988 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Terrel Bell |
| Succeeded by | Lauro Cavazos |
| Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities | |
| In office December 24, 1981 – February 6, 1985 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Joseph Duffey |
| Succeeded by | John Agresto (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William John Bennett
July 31, 1943 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (1986–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic (before 1986) |
| Spouse |
Elayne Glover
(m. 1982) |
| Relations | Robert S. Bennett (brother) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Williams College (BA) University of Texas at Austin (MA, PhD) Harvard University (JD) |
William John Bennett (born July 31, 1943) is an American writer and political expert. He is known for his work in government and for sharing his ideas on important topics. He served as the United States Secretary of Education from 1985 to 1988 under President Ronald Reagan. He also led the Office of National Drug Control Policy for President George H. W. Bush.
Contents
Early Life and School
William Bennett was born on July 31, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York. His mother, Nancy, was a medical secretary, and his father, F. Robert Bennett, was a banker. His family later moved to Washington, D.C., where he went to Gonzaga College High School.
He studied at Williams College and earned his bachelor's degree in 1965. He then went on to get a Ph.D. (a high-level university degree) in political philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin in 1970. He also earned a J.D. (a law degree) from Harvard Law School in 1971.
Career Highlights
Working in Education
Before working for the government, Bennett held various roles in education. From 1971 to 1972, he was an associate dean at Boston University. This meant he helped manage the College of Liberal Arts. He also taught philosophy there.
In 1979, he became the director of the National Humanities Center. This is a special place in North Carolina where scholars can study and write about history, literature, and other humanities subjects.
Government Roles
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan chose Bennett to lead the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). This organization supports research and education in the humanities. He worked there until 1985.
Later in 1985, President Reagan appointed him as the United States Secretary of Education. In this role, he was in charge of education policies for the entire country. While at the NEH, Bennett wrote a report called "To Reclaim a Legacy: A Report on the Humanities in Higher Education". This report looked at how humanities were taught in colleges.
In May 1986, Bennett changed his political party from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. He left his role as Secretary of Education in September 1988.
In March 1989, he returned to government work. President George H. W. Bush appointed him as the first Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. He served in this position until December 1990.
Radio and TV Work
In April 2004, Bennett started hosting a radio show called Morning in America (radio show). It was a national show where he discussed current events and his views. He retired from full-time radio in March 2016.
In 2008, Bennett hosted a weekly TV show on CNN called Beyond the Politics. He also worked as a contributor for CNN until 2013. Since January 2018, he has been moderating The Wise Guys, a Sunday night show on Fox News.
Author and Speaker
William Bennett is also a well-known author and speaker. He writes for publications like National Review Online and Commentary. He has also been involved with organizations like the Center for Security Policy and The Heritage Foundation, which focus on public policy.
He gives talks and shares his ideas on various topics. In 2017, he started his own podcast called The Bill Bennett Show.
Political Ideas
Bennett often shares his conservative views on many topics. When he was Secretary of Education, he supported ideas like school vouchers, which help parents choose different schools for their children. He also believed in a strong, traditional education. He often said that schools needed to have higher standards.
He is a member of the Project for the New American Century (PNAC). This group wrote a letter to President Bill Clinton in 1998, suggesting that the leader of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, should be removed from power. Bennett also supported the Iraq War.
Books
William Bennett is famous for his books. His most well-known book is The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories (1993). This book is a collection of stories that teach about good character traits. He also edited The Children's Book of Virtues, which later became an animated TV show.
Some of his other books include:
- First Lessons. A Report on Elementary Education in America (1986)
- The De-Valuing of America: The Fight for Our Culture and Our Children (1992)
- The Moral Compass: Stories for a Life's Journey (1995)
- The Index of Leading Cultural Indicators (1999)
- The Educated Child: A Parent's Guide from Preschool through Eighth Grade (1999)
- Why We Fight: Moral Clarity and the War on Terrorism (2003)
- America: The Last Best Hope (Volume I) (2006)
- America: The Last Best Hope (Volume II) (2007)
- The American Patriot's Almanac: Daily Readings on America, with John Cribb (2008)
- Is College Worth It? with David Wilezol (2013)
Personal Life
William Bennett married Mary Elayne Glover in 1982. They have two sons named John and Joseph. His younger brother was Robert S. Bennett, a well-known lawyer in Washington.
See also
In Spanish: William Bennett para niños
- List of U.S. political appointments that crossed party lines
